tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31400743639454684222024-03-19T06:03:38.527-07:00A Life Less OrdinaryLearning to deal with being a single parent of a developmentally disabled child.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-65067271853287432612010-08-12T00:53:00.000-07:002010-08-12T01:03:53.606-07:00August 11/12 , 2010 - Brianna wants a little brotherA few weeks ago, Brianna and I were watching cartoons, her favorite <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pastime</span>. An episode of Max and Ruby came on. You have probably seen it, they play so many reruns. It's Ruby's birthday, and Max has done his job getting her to her surprise party on time. She is opening presents with all her friends, painstakingly unwrapping them to preserve the paper for a later date. Meanwhile, Max is trying vainly to find the perfect gift for her, listening as she raves about the papers and how special they are, and how the gifts they wrap must be especially special because of how beautiful the paper is. So, finally, Max settles on a gift for Ruby: himself, or rather a hug, wrapped up in all of Ruby's beautiful papers. <br /><br />At the end of the show, Brianna's little bottom lip came poking out, and she burst out in tears. Panicked, thinking she had pinched herself or something, I started asking her what was wrong. Realizing it wasn't an "ouchy" cry, but an "I want something" cry, I started listing off the things I thought she might be desirous of. I talked to her about how she had just had a birthday, reminded her of the wonderful gifts she had just gotten. Then I started asking her, "Do you want __?", listing off all of the gifts Ruby had received for her birthday. <br /><br />As I spoke to her, she stopped crying, but after every gift I named off, her little lip would poke out again, indicating that, no, that was not what she wanted. So finally, with a sneaking suspicion, I said to her, "You don't want a little brother, do you?" Immediately, she smiled a great, shiny little smile, and cooed her affirmation. Knowing I was about to break her little heart, I patiently explained to Brianna that Mommy can't give her a little brother right now, that she has to have a Daddy first. That little lip immediately came right back out, and the tears started rolling. She finally calmed down when I told her, "Maybe someday you can have a little brother." <br /><br />So, yeah....combine that with the multitude of friends I have either having babies or getting pregnant right now, and baby fever is crazy for me right now.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-83022540499309610612010-08-09T15:30:00.000-07:002010-08-09T15:55:08.603-07:00Time to Update? Yes! (Please don't hate me for being away so long!)Okay, so I know there are probably a lot of people who have stopped checking my blog. And others who check it, sigh, and wonder, "Will she ever update it? It's been two years!!!" Believe it or not, I had an update blog begun...a year ago...but never finished it. I guess things have just been on a bit of a rollercoaster the last couple years, and things are just now starting to level out and enter some sense of normalcy and routine.<br /><br />Brianna is five now, and growing slowly but surely. She's finally 28.6 lbs. and 39 1/2 inches tall. She's still small for a five year old, but she's a happy girl still. She graduated from preschool this past June, and will start kindergarten in September. While growing up, the summer was always my favorite time of year. Getting to stay home and play all day, running around in the sun, swimming in the creeks. Not so for Brianna. While she loves to swim and go for walks and such, she isn't much of a fan of being home all day. She loves school and interacting with other kids. That's why, though she cries when I drop her off, daycare is so good for her. <br /><br />Brianna currently goes to daycare five days a week, while I'm working, doing office work for the department of human services. All this work is on a volunteer basis, to pad my resume, in hopes that, once the hiring freeze is over, I'll have a foot in the door to a good, paying job. For me, getting a job working for the state is vital, because not only does it provide good benefits, but it also provides major holidays off, and a set 8-5 schedule with limited overtime. I'm tired of working long hours, swing shifts, and mandatory double or even triple shifts. I'm tired of breaking my back caring for other people, knowing as I do that I will burn out before Brianna needs me the most to provide that same care for her. <br /><br />As for Brianna's development, she seems to be a very bright and lively five year old. She still doesn't walk unassisted, and only says a few words, occasionally (mom, Nana, Uh oh, Yeah, balloon, I love you), and it's more intonations than actual fully formed words. She still hasn't got a power chair of her own yet, but we currently have one on loan for an indefinite amount of time, for her to practice in when we are home. We also have the loan of an ECO 2 communicative device. She has been using similar communicators for a couple years now, with some degree of consistency, though, as with everything she does, it's on her schedule, and when SHE wants to. There is no rushing, cajoling, convincing, begging, bribing or tricking her into anything if she isn't agreeable to doing it. She is her mother's child, and as such, has a very stubborn streak to her. <br /><br />Brianna still rules the roost, too. She knows she has everybody wrapped around her little finger, from Mommy right down to her little cousin, Tyson, who is just one year old. She gets her way, more because she's such a sweet little girl, than from any conniving or manipulation. Admittedly, if the television isn't on her favorite shows, she does tend to fuss and cry until it is, but she is, in general, a very happy child, always smiling and laughing. She loves outings, especially to such places as the shopping mall (she loves to pick out new clothes), the riverfront carousel, and just about any place we can walk around. Her favorite person in the world is still her Grammy Mary. Even Mommy quite often takes a back seat to Grammy where Brianna is concerned. Mary still keeps Brianna over night most Sunday or Monday nights, so that I can have a little break from the realities of motherhood.<br /><br />About three months ago, we had Brianna evaluated by the Spasticity team at Shriner's Children's Hospital. While they think she is an excellent candidate for the baclofen pump, they determined that she is still too small to safely place it, and so we continue with a regimen of oral baclofen and quarterly botox injections into her gastroc muscles. This seems to help significantly, though I am definitely curious to see what kind of results we might have with the baclofen pump. At the same time, as you can imagine, I'm very hesitant about having to put her through another surgery and recovery. As with all surgeries, this one involves some major risks, including the fact that the spinal column is involved in the procedure. So, I'm not too terribly concerned that they've decided to wait a while for surgery. They want her to weigh at least 30 lbs. before they consider surgery. But considering that she has only gained about half a pound in the past year, it could be a couple years still before she becomes a viable candidate. <br /><br />Well, there's the short version of an update on the past two years. I will post more later. I'm currently at work, on some down time, but have work that needs to be addressed before quitting time. I look forward to updating again soon, and hopefully with more regularity again.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-27566046236457984372008-10-18T01:23:00.000-07:002008-10-18T02:09:13.532-07:00October 17/18, 2008 - Peek-a-Boo!Okay, so it's time for an update, I guess. Gotta keep my readers reading, right? But, I'm kinda worn out tonight, so am just going to jump right in with the most recent events, then back track at a later date.<br /><br />Brianna had a feeding clinic appointment on Tuesday. She really hasn't gained much weight in the past four months or so. And since she's been retching and we've had to decrease her rate of flow on the feeding pump significantly, we can't really increase it again. We've tried, and she just gets really irritable and her tummy gets upset. So, the dietician is having us add Duocal to her formula to increase her caloric intake. So far, she seems to be tolerating it fairly well, with only a slight increase in the retching. We've also doubled her Reglan dose, to help speed the formula through her system, in hopes of cutting down on those early morning and late evening retching episodes. So hopefully, between the two, we can get Bri gaining weight good here soon. As long as she doesn't hit 30 lbs. within the next month....4 lbs. is a bit too much of a weight gain. <br /><br />Other than the feeding clinic appointment, there's not a lot new here. Bri's babysitter is sick with the flu and pink eye, and her doctor told her she's highly contagious, so, since my sister isn't returning my calls or text messages (gee, how nice....really shows I can count on her...), I'm going to have to call in to work tomorrow. Mary is in Wisconsin, because her mom passed away, and she's getting everything organized there. Damien was in Wisconsin for the funeral, but I don't know if he's back yet or not, and I'd really rather not have to call him, since it feels like such a burden when I do. He's got better things to do anymore. So, unless my sister grows up and returns my phone calls, proving she can be counted on when I need her, then, I get a three day weekend. <br /><br />You know the ironic thing about my sister's attitude? Just a few weeks ago, she was wanting me to pull Bri out of daycare and get rid of the weekend sitter, so she (my sister) could watch Bri full time and make the $1500 a month that goes to the two sitters. (Yes, you read that right, $1500 a month. I pay $425 a month for childcare, and then a program called Inclusive Childcare pays an additional $1000 a month, give or take, for Brianna, because she requires so much more care than a typical toddler.) But, I didn't pull Bri out, because I didn't think my sister would be reliable. I thought she'd get sick of it before long, and leave me in the lurch, like she has done so many times in the past. And here she is now, my only back up, who swore she would watch Bri any time I needed her to, and she refuses to even return my calls to say she can't watch Bri. Instead, she takes the cowards' way, and ignores me. Scary thing is, though, last night, I tried to call her because I was really drowsy on my way home from work. I had seen the doctor and been prescribed some meds, and they made me drowsy. I was driving from work to daycare to pick up Brianna, and I couldn't focus, and felt really bad. So I tried to call my sister, who lives just blocks away from daycare, to see if she could come drive me home. But, she didn't answer, and didn't return my call or my message. So, I ended up driving home myself, windows down for the cold air, about 10 mph below the speed limit, scared out of my mind that I'd fall asleep at the wheel and hurt my baby again. <br /><br />Okay, so, reading all of this, my anger at my sister seems pretty ridiculous. But, I can't help but be angry. I'm supposed to be able to count on her. She came to Oregon to be a help to me, to lend a hand when needed. But now that she's got a new boyfriend, has a new job, is going to school, and lives elsewhere, she can't be bothered to even return a phone call. Nevermind the thought of asking her to go to lunch or something. Unless alcohol is involved. I feel as if she can't spare the time for family, she's so wrapped up in her boyfriend. And he's a nice guy. But he's the first one to encourage her to talk to me, to help out, to step up and all that. It isn't him that's doing it, at all. It's her.<br /><br />Anyway, I think it's the drowsiness from my meds starting to talk now, so I'm going to sign off for now. Otherwise I'm going to start typing real gibberish.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-66497001800727178422008-09-20T01:11:00.000-07:002008-09-20T01:22:18.463-07:00September 20, 2008 - Brianna Plays "Dress Up"In our living room, which is a horrible mess, underneath the coffee table, I keep a bunch of Bri's clothes. Mostly jammies, stretch pants, and a couple onesies, usually. It started out of sheer laziness, and me absolutely hating walking up my incredibly steep stairs, which I've fallen down numerous times, both by myself and while holding Bri. So, practicality, too. Brianna was puking all over her clothes fairly regularly, and I hated making 20 trips up and down stairs each day. It was bad enough having to walk upstairs to use the toilet in our 2 bedroom.<br /><br /><div><div></div><div>Anyway, later, when we started speech therapy at Shriner's, the clothes under the table became a way for Brianna to choose what she wants to wear....I'd give her a choice between two outfits....the one she didn't want to wear, went under the table to be an option the next day. Of course, clothes would pile up....I hate housework, and I work full time. </div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014852972957602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA4_4AwEAoKktkv7KR4-uJWsxH6dYZrfe9kd4qinXLBUrW9OjnOKtTHkICMpsy4HQllGwAzxRikbTECxYigxhyphenhyphenw82otvgLxYdtBLTpLyW4-FGzfcmClzUSAL1f99TDcqVc0Xyzd4hVlLP7/s400/IMG_4101.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>One article of clothing that has remained under the coffee table for months now is the skirt that you see on Bri's left arm in the picture above. Being size 18 months, the skirt is much too short for Bri to wear anymore, but, it seems to be her favorite article of clothing, because every day, she pulls that skirt out from under the coffee table, and she puts it on her left arm. The skirt is soon followed by her Pirate Dora nightgown, which she drapes over her tummy. This might be followed by a bright pair of jammie pants, or, as was the case yesterday, a pair of jeans draped over her face.</div><br /><div>Thus, you have Brianna's version of playing dress up. On occasion, she'll drag every single article of clothing under that coffee table out, and she'll have herself buried in all of it, at which point, she starts either shrieking with laughter, or fussing because she can't see and can't get out. Either way, you can't help but laugh and be absolutely thrilled when she does something that is so typical of a three year old girl.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014848368768402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlX-W4GISwhv-fiD4ETHsBrcxR3S4khNBM2nGti2qGJe6HQdMmq2ULFtmRl7tQHIr1aBxHM1ldrh5KhI0eBZ-MDYQnJO062Np91bmrKY92tui7h7-1BqQZoQMEzGJgOvRcc8UePcnFQorR/s400/IMG_4099.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p>Note the Dora nightgown in her left hand in the picture below, and the dark denim jeans beside her. It didn't take long before those jeans were draped over her chest.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014521387606274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQU0JtWIBqMyYkM_E6TYTxF-7gZjqN5bdZqfExcYXVbfludjV6R1w9Cl72vmLhdYORLeAjJ6xjvkPUSOacMy4zWj-YnEXRI0gBcqF-PUiBKzmf0TI6ZDjksBiHR-nKKJS96kmCZ9CazLx/s400/IMG_4082.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014533186807666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBNB3qBKPFXZsZLZkjmlcWl4c6SpRhyj-8IcrpK2QaM1fbIB3xNbxNxqX4LKISC4_irY1yLd9aUFbK7fvITW1eFtkOQiNelmG_Puk-qcBBd8kPl41tfmMHo7YF3LE05wZC_VPaZdxXvDt/s400/IMG_4091.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014527121405506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ21eGO7o7WI4JqdtJGJH44RyWzCxHGWYT-0Dd10ZKDkgux0ETkWdXNBRGOjbO9s_FA9CDPxrollVybl76tTagYuBSyuCe1luTwH-MlKFdz67l7fY9qGD47r_ZDa-Y9MrNw6H6ayCONjlu/s400/IMG_4087.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014524500201714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOw0DhyphenhyphenccRQfZwXGP0ox3IqGssDU9UF2PfALe9VMSwiDWYoT8eB7BPTNqIuh_2ifrkrZzE81l8QEdJjyf2AN5u_Cjw3Jc8t-fVObgmCnNFI7DK8OTY28aFgyxIJLfVo0Kwhj4RXVY3Js_J/s400/IMG_4083.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248014540344180258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2bFyjTRQ6rwrfUg_3xZqJ1KbBrgevZmwwSUQmdOWWgm3fxBc59sGz1CzTCeE-5gPqXXFuXZuCQPJgPgmtMI3ilvU6yN2xDjGChb3IQ_dgIWvXRXpSP4_ERN3VhWFEQkKpgY__x_Jjm5GF/s400/IMG_4096.JPG" border="0" /></p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-42103024004653282942008-08-29T02:00:00.001-07:002008-08-29T02:35:15.197-07:00August 29, 2008 - Finally finishing my Updating!So, Brianna has been going to Shriner's Hospital for almost a year now for therapy. She was receiving speech therapy 2x a month, and OT and/or PT once a week. At the beginning of August, Brianna's speech therapist moved to Texas, where her husband received a scholarship to attend grad school, and an opportunity to pursue his dreams as a writer. It was sad to see her go, but, with such a wonderful opportunity being presented to them, it's understandable that they wouldn't want to pass it up. So, in the meantime, Brianna has been without her speech therapist. Because there's always a concern of antiprogress (I can't think of the term I'm searching for right now....), or losing ground, so to speak, Bri's OT, Denee, has been carrying on with some of the therapies from speech in our OT sessions. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijOrwhUaJ6F5xqEAHT_gKK517FUfyBbwdLINgTnT1LKkjNp9d1przdhqMDWGu4_Rm5gvZ5RjNAFEFcDF9qyMGw5kJ6ri5Aw5UCdsbA-tZrs9zhGaRNU9QzcSV2BwTr7aelkPq1gmxcgqA/s1600-h/IMG_4014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239863362521425026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijOrwhUaJ6F5xqEAHT_gKK517FUfyBbwdLINgTnT1LKkjNp9d1przdhqMDWGu4_Rm5gvZ5RjNAFEFcDF9qyMGw5kJ6ri5Aw5UCdsbA-tZrs9zhGaRNU9QzcSV2BwTr7aelkPq1gmxcgqA/s400/IMG_4014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />A little about Bri's speech therapies....Right now, we're really working to try to give Brianna a system for communicating with us. We have three different ways for her to make choices, actually. The first way we introduced was with object cues. We hold up two objects in her field of vision, and ask her which one she wants. She has to look at the object she wants, (or, as is the case lately, the outfit), look at the person holding the objects, then look at the object again. <br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK7nJ6Z1NB6OOlL61M00qk0kE1UKvZGG_eIKV2tkiT0sDPJyFemRtWXDnFsH2zaI5YagsKZxTys5wJf-Y4_vmnSr8lQEDgXzoz0XRayts4cT5YcwdoBI0VW9zHOQjhWbQW_exF93N1y6A/s1600-h/IMG_4016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239863368526606770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNK7nJ6Z1NB6OOlL61M00qk0kE1UKvZGG_eIKV2tkiT0sDPJyFemRtWXDnFsH2zaI5YagsKZxTys5wJf-Y4_vmnSr8lQEDgXzoz0XRayts4cT5YcwdoBI0VW9zHOQjhWbQW_exF93N1y6A/s400/IMG_4016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The second system we have for Brianna to make selections, is a simple "yes" and "no" system. We use the sign for "yes", and a "stop" hand to sign "no". The right hand is always yes, the left is always no. We ask her a question, ex: "Brianna, do you want to wear your jeans today?" Then we do the two signs, saying each sign as we do it. She'll look back and forth between the two signs, sometimes for several moments. But she eventually makes her choice and focuses on it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E2s7YxATse1lsY1BEi4CBDHTQL2SCxuvz0K4rw5eqOtq1MRv2B5XqllOAMx5urmoZo2nJBLrpHIZUkornoXnrW-WHuqWgHQNOXLEJHRBXSyqlKf6kB1THLyxcIDNDdPcHIbGjNJBTHzr/s1600-h/IMG_4020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239863370338437410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2E2s7YxATse1lsY1BEi4CBDHTQL2SCxuvz0K4rw5eqOtq1MRv2B5XqllOAMx5urmoZo2nJBLrpHIZUkornoXnrW-WHuqWgHQNOXLEJHRBXSyqlKf6kB1THLyxcIDNDdPcHIbGjNJBTHzr/s400/IMG_4020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The third system of communication we have introduced with Brianna is switch communication. We start out with two switches called Step-by-Steps. These are switches that are built to record voice commands/cues, as well as multiple stage directions. In the picture above, you can see one of the Step-by-Steps, the red and black button. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbljnZQg-e1Q2iUrQyijso_YU6qS7my_4Q2uGnlOilGgLmd1nwI8Aa6H11FTpttzeNC9gC-A69XfKWokpIa7Vv_IH2Pdxgj_SRbuz4a9fkeylIUiqx-tJ4IAXgZ_weBFTl5ETKdzV4wlr8/s1600-h/IMG_4021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239863374046909106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbljnZQg-e1Q2iUrQyijso_YU6qS7my_4Q2uGnlOilGgLmd1nwI8Aa6H11FTpttzeNC9gC-A69XfKWokpIa7Vv_IH2Pdxgj_SRbuz4a9fkeylIUiqx-tJ4IAXgZ_weBFTl5ETKdzV4wlr8/s400/IMG_4021.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />We program one of the Step-by-Steps to give Brianna choices, like, "Book, bubbles, computer", or "nap, bath, bubbles", with each choice being one "step". We program the second Step-by-Step to say something like, "That's the one I want!" We then hook the Step-by-Steps up to jelly bean switches, which are smaller versions of the flat, red and black switch you can see in the background of the first picture. Obviously, since Shriner's is non-profit, and all of the equipment is shared amongst several therapists and clients, it's not always possible to have the exact same equipment, or even the ideal equipment, when we need it. So, we make do, with textured switches (the soft, white one on the right side of her head seen below), or the egg switches, (the green one pictured.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PRRy1yU2FTIqOzcs5Ihuqkj9jk5iGvwGzZOSjpGMrmQO17ThfMBECgxwHZmK_G_8GOFm0vWS93K3mGX8zGjOeciwVb4r110ixD_0lBVcU6gJNyXOZkdeo3y3HnyOxmdQWibChzRQlNYH/s1600-h/IMG_4023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239863380598762802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-PRRy1yU2FTIqOzcs5Ihuqkj9jk5iGvwGzZOSjpGMrmQO17ThfMBECgxwHZmK_G_8GOFm0vWS93K3mGX8zGjOeciwVb4r110ixD_0lBVcU6gJNyXOZkdeo3y3HnyOxmdQWibChzRQlNYH/s400/IMG_4023.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Brianna really enjoys making choices in therapy. One of her favorite choices is "fan". It doesn't hurt at all that, when she chooses the fan, Denee plays silly games with her, like, "Who gets the fan now?" and "Bump your chin with the fan". </p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCud5HKUWpCRLlx4xfMA4Vo7104u7LToLGLh_DCUVjpvMoNpX4u8Kykwva_aT6vX-twq9fB5iAVLx_mpyt_MyQlCDbtnsyBhYoeM_ob8fRBZDIIMX6mPBaB5L14Cv3YUfZ1AVuGh11DtID/s1600-h/IMG_4029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239862800460594242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCud5HKUWpCRLlx4xfMA4Vo7104u7LToLGLh_DCUVjpvMoNpX4u8Kykwva_aT6vX-twq9fB5iAVLx_mpyt_MyQlCDbtnsyBhYoeM_ob8fRBZDIIMX6mPBaB5L14Cv3YUfZ1AVuGh11DtID/s400/IMG_4029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CLSnDJPvSTb2sKaDpem0kh9iYF6wW8gICr8VUPnpFCdc5ffRSUvJ4ryZVG5AFVelHarFLV-rWk5L3cZeZSWtpZmiIXISDugHomYFDo3tFRxaOGliWOnabxvRhVIv_ImYEp0udm3-g9n0/s1600-h/IMG_4032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239862806145749762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CLSnDJPvSTb2sKaDpem0kh9iYF6wW8gICr8VUPnpFCdc5ffRSUvJ4ryZVG5AFVelHarFLV-rWk5L3cZeZSWtpZmiIXISDugHomYFDo3tFRxaOGliWOnabxvRhVIv_ImYEp0udm3-g9n0/s400/IMG_4032.JPG" border="0" /></a> We're not certain how much of Brianna's choosing is deliberate, and how much is just reflexive. Our best guess, several months ago, was about 70% deliberate. However, we treat every choice as a deliberate choice, because, regardless of the intentionality of it, it's setting up a pattern of behavior, and teaching Brianna to identify words, and to realize when a choice has been made. So, basically, in a nut shell, that's what Brianna's speech therapy sessions have looked like. Clear as mud, right?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-DZGkwwbI_tQQNPZoN-gNx8wbvwNPhLiv0IhJAKMJlGSERLJK9YK9c9xWcPZwO1EmMpxljDplwlkCXJTv-exzrbS_5yDiGdNf1x1aWTjGqzbxyiOANbJnQKJmU2ltKG1rmCipjza649R/s1600-h/IMG_4033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239862808502892562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-DZGkwwbI_tQQNPZoN-gNx8wbvwNPhLiv0IhJAKMJlGSERLJK9YK9c9xWcPZwO1EmMpxljDplwlkCXJTv-exzrbS_5yDiGdNf1x1aWTjGqzbxyiOANbJnQKJmU2ltKG1rmCipjza649R/s400/IMG_4033.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9Qc8i6Cb-Gl-Kxu-IKK1cJDfJAJ9FDOAVX90w9FhFaxMgt4D3-ah2I39fUp9LhWIsDtJT-nySR4KXzzO4vliTXOyyHTH5SkMv3eW1LLT3L_puDmU52Y7ucOVMJ-mKM1onAPpAA2fYjIn/s1600-h/IMG_4035.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239862811775754370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9Qc8i6Cb-Gl-Kxu-IKK1cJDfJAJ9FDOAVX90w9FhFaxMgt4D3-ah2I39fUp9LhWIsDtJT-nySR4KXzzO4vliTXOyyHTH5SkMv3eW1LLT3L_puDmU52Y7ucOVMJ-mKM1onAPpAA2fYjIn/s400/IMG_4035.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ABXl3OBF_8Qyc4fGGG9ybSz2PBcFnqEr1CK133nr6EUR4hXQ1zixIJzo__DMQPtTH__B1gGkCU22cB07Hwn5IuMBuVTIwNxjLml5MMQx2fgcrKsn5byOt8r3y5B_ADCQbkAYWe_GY2LC/s1600-h/IMG_4045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239862815711091442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ABXl3OBF_8Qyc4fGGG9ybSz2PBcFnqEr1CK133nr6EUR4hXQ1zixIJzo__DMQPtTH__B1gGkCU22cB07Hwn5IuMBuVTIwNxjLml5MMQx2fgcrKsn5byOt8r3y5B_ADCQbkAYWe_GY2LC/s400/IMG_4045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-65188764148548608952008-08-24T22:50:00.000-07:002008-08-24T23:00:24.958-07:00August 24, 2008 - Just for Fun....Just for fun, here are some more recent pics.<br /><br />These four were taken at my company's employee picnic in July. My sister, her boyfriend, and his son all came with Brianna and me to the picnic. They had a bounce house for the kids (It kept collapsing on them, though, because it wasn't properly anchored, until one of the dads had a brilliant idea and staked it down properly.), a treasure hunt, door prizes, prizes for the best costumes, a cake walk, volleyball, horseshoes, and a bunch of other fun stuff. Lying on the blanket there, Brianna couldn't make up her mind whether she was happy or sad. But when we started going for a walk, she decided she was DEFINITELY happy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1VvSts9qU3F2LwcPI9DfH4OizHUoGeqxYkxhLihxEC2N3ar1MjX8ZsdvnTOT4k_QLCKmA0R9VCLLdmmcTYYg0qECW5Xe4sqRTVw1-5_4fOqpLvsOy3n-32qteID1B2vyo7iCONa4FI1u/s1600-h/IMG_3812.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329761499703522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1VvSts9qU3F2LwcPI9DfH4OizHUoGeqxYkxhLihxEC2N3ar1MjX8ZsdvnTOT4k_QLCKmA0R9VCLLdmmcTYYg0qECW5Xe4sqRTVw1-5_4fOqpLvsOy3n-32qteID1B2vyo7iCONa4FI1u/s400/IMG_3812.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix56kb4Vu7jB2IifyU2Id_BhRCw3jyDxUMiRxgOow1BbgNgrR6K80Iu0TLiIGrG0RvhFrmvrGI5ut63dLpEuvooNISkHPhLpRzX-SiBfpwBKEJqLsyyN8J2g7wEF45xcdS29EoSb7tVEwI/s1600-h/IMG_3835.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329768632207090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix56kb4Vu7jB2IifyU2Id_BhRCw3jyDxUMiRxgOow1BbgNgrR6K80Iu0TLiIGrG0RvhFrmvrGI5ut63dLpEuvooNISkHPhLpRzX-SiBfpwBKEJqLsyyN8J2g7wEF45xcdS29EoSb7tVEwI/s400/IMG_3835.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej3t7Cy4vcUhRCw8MJcnS7bxAx-wmeG_8usvl_KW4J6dZLPi16aYpfV9IZ5XFp8PwiVsJJFJ0Mm-tT4YEqYVZXpaonstqBOYgY4qtL8B-a3m7-xwa0FixXbU7XNUk2c6NYF15mJ6miqEV/s1600-h/IMG_3864.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329773042725746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej3t7Cy4vcUhRCw8MJcnS7bxAx-wmeG_8usvl_KW4J6dZLPi16aYpfV9IZ5XFp8PwiVsJJFJ0Mm-tT4YEqYVZXpaonstqBOYgY4qtL8B-a3m7-xwa0FixXbU7XNUk2c6NYF15mJ6miqEV/s400/IMG_3864.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBZIEYRT6818g8M__9CV8_Hu1FrrUn7_2hx1ffzsRf3bB2J9CTZyeQolE-IWvLPGq77EVBOCMlQe-7vclJ0gq5-plDTmtfTNSjMLEWPOnYynOg2p-jNkQAoa6vpM-EgjjbNSvD3nhPi_Y/s1600-h/IMG_3865.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329782233623362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBZIEYRT6818g8M__9CV8_Hu1FrrUn7_2hx1ffzsRf3bB2J9CTZyeQolE-IWvLPGq77EVBOCMlQe-7vclJ0gq5-plDTmtfTNSjMLEWPOnYynOg2p-jNkQAoa6vpM-EgjjbNSvD3nhPi_Y/s400/IMG_3865.JPG" border="0" /></a> This one is just for fun, so you can see how cute Bri is with her glasses on, sitting like a big girl in her wheelchair.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyEm5qp8R7QojzixaU0dkWNKVJ1PoEArR6cfWsl7Tx0essGOAafVJsA6lkYtiIdbc6-Ji0d1XCkwkvd0nHgd3rwZYH0y7AuqtRTEdx0uNSRo6VWMAdAUVh3vJOTDzkZedjkpsBVnuTAYY/s1600-h/IMG_3954.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329790556688594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNyEm5qp8R7QojzixaU0dkWNKVJ1PoEArR6cfWsl7Tx0essGOAafVJsA6lkYtiIdbc6-Ji0d1XCkwkvd0nHgd3rwZYH0y7AuqtRTEdx0uNSRo6VWMAdAUVh3vJOTDzkZedjkpsBVnuTAYY/s400/IMG_3954.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And this is what happens when Auntie is left home alone with the babysitter and the day off from work. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mkf2puEeXXiw4LmK_8ulEJzYnkdfL1H2kjoJ9XSaS1cirsJxg1EDB6xPL2-2AW4-w0z_K5gPMV7v-E0E7dmdG-rKZRpcHwo5WVSWV7YqCpDW9qronpFx7de-y_YfccYR8A5dvP-LAdEZ/s1600-h/IMG_3619.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329103468353522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Mkf2puEeXXiw4LmK_8ulEJzYnkdfL1H2kjoJ9XSaS1cirsJxg1EDB6xPL2-2AW4-w0z_K5gPMV7v-E0E7dmdG-rKZRpcHwo5WVSWV7YqCpDW9qronpFx7de-y_YfccYR8A5dvP-LAdEZ/s400/IMG_3619.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WOissKMnqPRId4oZCkPmPUirPsmK1XI3Suf2YyG2HslmGVQSJT9pNRLi67nHpNBy1sOqMxj7cNITLOBpjV2LCz6EC7NPrWX992eHxWgEw1lzV03gkWHFUBaVviz4FqLAqoYjXKeSuofm/s1600-h/IMG_3763.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329108088100386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WOissKMnqPRId4oZCkPmPUirPsmK1XI3Suf2YyG2HslmGVQSJT9pNRLi67nHpNBy1sOqMxj7cNITLOBpjV2LCz6EC7NPrWX992eHxWgEw1lzV03gkWHFUBaVviz4FqLAqoYjXKeSuofm/s400/IMG_3763.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Showing off Brianna's beautiful blue eyes....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OedSljrswO_AbuRSDWLsKQHMHkheL3yNKyaSKNu7kK1o0VlnUOmSAgiFu23bdWnBCZ3RMqQuzvdT-OwMsfN96EQQkhjn0iphn2_qAMEtFou2Ty36LWZG993dVohI2MHvOo9q2CfDCh7x/s1600-h/IMG_3774.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329111907969234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OedSljrswO_AbuRSDWLsKQHMHkheL3yNKyaSKNu7kK1o0VlnUOmSAgiFu23bdWnBCZ3RMqQuzvdT-OwMsfN96EQQkhjn0iphn2_qAMEtFou2Ty36LWZG993dVohI2MHvOo9q2CfDCh7x/s400/IMG_3774.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3O0uMVRDkI2xUC3I-Xh2JRueLWSGD2Sdu1fy-5sz04KjJ91gLQ8RjQ41PlsfG2i-apceFRBvL0FHujxw5yy-zDxIAukJ1aVcUY_Khbwki3hlGO-u4x_AQp-DIfu5eYmNRx-KQeo0nVdx/s1600-h/IMG_3785.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238329114588654706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3O0uMVRDkI2xUC3I-Xh2JRueLWSGD2Sdu1fy-5sz04KjJ91gLQ8RjQ41PlsfG2i-apceFRBvL0FHujxw5yy-zDxIAukJ1aVcUY_Khbwki3hlGO-u4x_AQp-DIfu5eYmNRx-KQeo0nVdx/s400/IMG_3785.JPG" border="0" /></a>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-22412309290645128222008-08-24T22:37:00.000-07:002008-08-24T23:01:44.160-07:00August 24, 2008 - Long Awaited....Brianna's Chair!All right. As promised, here are pics of Brianna and her new wheelchair. It's a Zippie Tilt 'n Space. Though it's a genuine pain in the butt to load into the back of my car (I'll take pics of that later, so you can see what I mean...), Brianna and I both love it. So does the daycare provider. Brianna spends most of her time in her wheelchair while she's at daycare. Wed-Fri, I leave the chair there, so that she can use it there, and on the other days, it's at home with us. She loves to sit and watch whatever is going on around her. If Doris or I are cooking, she likes to watch. She loves watching her cartoons from that vantage point. She can see faces better, she can see things that are higher up. She can reach better, is cushioned and comfortable. Doris actually told me I need to find a Mon-Fri job, so that she can watch Bri five days a week, rather than just three, she loves her that much. But, since Bri has therapy during the week, having a Mon-Fri 9-5 job isn't feasible. So, our arrangement works for us, for now.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79efYADO0707M1vC5dvYMndjY6l67Kv6V-6pTjuZoDBf8hBtwyDRQtdlad3n-ShIMEYvlYJBCx3XSGoitaDyamiWdk7bacaAw8EmjG6zp-m41_L6m-CSB90eqIhKonb3jU0wmCZMlormf/s1600-h/IMG_3598.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238325893047596098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79efYADO0707M1vC5dvYMndjY6l67Kv6V-6pTjuZoDBf8hBtwyDRQtdlad3n-ShIMEYvlYJBCx3XSGoitaDyamiWdk7bacaAw8EmjG6zp-m41_L6m-CSB90eqIhKonb3jU0wmCZMlormf/s400/IMG_3598.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkELrkxNuHg-uMXSlYJx9crF-W-GVdh-v90aDxTotZ-ojL0eG_rczyFFueFiki5EBLk49b1BJM7EGCMgwaIiQICdCvBE7R1O8SouUq06SJzCk9ewpg8yWVbg4OkBv02lmH1-pszzdOQZ78/s1600-h/IMG_3604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238325899357903218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkELrkxNuHg-uMXSlYJx9crF-W-GVdh-v90aDxTotZ-ojL0eG_rczyFFueFiki5EBLk49b1BJM7EGCMgwaIiQICdCvBE7R1O8SouUq06SJzCk9ewpg8yWVbg4OkBv02lmH1-pszzdOQZ78/s400/IMG_3604.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrAmkvkX-qriFMhyB0xRTd-r_MwuWmNo1HSizi4kjYLssvH_CvCiZl0EVagVO5FLddFg6F822wOwS1arGqp9RCa8jlaBd80hBTHPqSd1_F5PggSxf-cKl4IY9ftQUfjZoD2zf_l_G4j8l/s1600-h/IMG_3613.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238325907730117794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrAmkvkX-qriFMhyB0xRTd-r_MwuWmNo1HSizi4kjYLssvH_CvCiZl0EVagVO5FLddFg6F822wOwS1arGqp9RCa8jlaBd80hBTHPqSd1_F5PggSxf-cKl4IY9ftQUfjZoD2zf_l_G4j8l/s400/IMG_3613.JPG" border="0" /></a> It even has her name embroidered on the back of the seat....see?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFtrUtu6UL0lJfJ3Hdr-ZSfMN2BP8Dp_-amKNsn74mnOm8TPzvOF8UepPPQB8ULL3sa-Kw_AGCh64HONPNY3WpwzqvQalw2GeWqLFxFwLhgoVe0NEAq6OVlyNF_r6s-DtHkCgazzsqE5a/s1600-h/IMG_3616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238325909342045314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFtrUtu6UL0lJfJ3Hdr-ZSfMN2BP8Dp_-amKNsn74mnOm8TPzvOF8UepPPQB8ULL3sa-Kw_AGCh64HONPNY3WpwzqvQalw2GeWqLFxFwLhgoVe0NEAq6OVlyNF_r6s-DtHkCgazzsqE5a/s400/IMG_3616.JPG" border="0" /></a>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-79411658348946606692008-08-24T01:49:00.000-07:002008-08-24T23:02:18.379-07:00August 24, 2008 - Therapy, Bedtime, and Visits with GrammyOkay, so from the top....<br /><br /><br /><br />Brianna is doing wonderfully with driving her chair. She's becoming so bold! She loves to explore new areas. And "Authorized Personnel Only" and "No Admittance" signs hold no authority over her. If a door opens, she wants to go through it. If there's a person talking, she wants to find them to say hi. She LOVES the elevator. It takes her to unexplored levels of the building, including, as pictured below, the outdoor play area on the 7th floor.<br /><br /><br /><br />Brianna is really getting the hang of driving. She can go in straight lines, she can make turns, and she definitely comprehends things. A few weeks ago, while we were up at Shriner's for PT, Bri, as usual, drove down to the central supply office to get a sticker. I held up two stickers for her to visually chose from. She kept looking back and forth between the two, as if she refused to choose one. So I told her, "If you choose a sticker here, we can go down to the reception area and get another sticker there." She immediately chose the Elmo sticker, and as soon as her chair was turned back on, she turned around, went out the door, around the corner, and down to the reception office, without stopping, without hitting anything, and stopped in front of the window, waiting for mommy to let her choose a sticker. Now you tell me....does it sound like she doesn't know what she's doing?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIAHSDU99bf__KiIdG-7xMZxtqrq9uJU57YaAPPO0Y78bfMF1lYRE6yUy_Jm7Z5X4OjrL3zFJGH2rrbaI3-9p3ldgYUtobWvitBhToz0XhMMaNPPEElklXhgRynx_PgnL4fnasXuY7oV3/s1600-h/IMG_3412.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238004355632556498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIAHSDU99bf__KiIdG-7xMZxtqrq9uJU57YaAPPO0Y78bfMF1lYRE6yUy_Jm7Z5X4OjrL3zFJGH2rrbaI3-9p3ldgYUtobWvitBhToz0XhMMaNPPEElklXhgRynx_PgnL4fnasXuY7oV3/s400/IMG_3412.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The weather the last few weeks has been pretty decent. We've had some triple digit days scattered amongst some milder days, scattered amongst some rainy, dreary days. On one of those days, while we were at therapy, the complex manager finally paid someone to come in and spray for ants. Not that it did much good. I mean, seriously. The entire city of Salem is built on one massive ant hill. We were ant-free for a total of about six hours. Now they're back in full force. But on the bright side, that day, Bri and I got to enjoy the nice weather, sitting in the back yard, while I read stories to her and the neighbor kids.<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238012526968327506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57c23NRl0vBdALhXAYLsbda2YXOJjyrTZm0Ado2guLI89d94ymIz9I6IKR1HgLjQMUgbb3JOySXInDre9HXIQ-PHG2j17AjrZGYbAGy3xg_MJ4iFS9-irMcOXalV-bJg4UBDfj_MrWzna/s400/IMG_3433.JPG" border="0" />And she definitely loves driving her chair...she gets very upset if we go up to Shriner's, and she doesn't get to drive.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK479P9sC8bcWy7BHOXVj4VgsQwa7mcxdITd_lKC_J0p7aBhefG1a0bdchI98yHeF9lsjN6ICW5e77-iCZFRy8Gtgzi3YiFZUW6GZP7BB_mo6zRCCjoEFj7xd7Vu0_cwTFc1Hu0h29IZP/s1600-h/IMG_3486.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238004364609652306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIK479P9sC8bcWy7BHOXVj4VgsQwa7mcxdITd_lKC_J0p7aBhefG1a0bdchI98yHeF9lsjN6ICW5e77-iCZFRy8Gtgzi3YiFZUW6GZP7BB_mo6zRCCjoEFj7xd7Vu0_cwTFc1Hu0h29IZP/s400/IMG_3486.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJQBjuIjxwfTESj8JqRey5JWYvZeyD0C2ixvj1YjzhChy2QvPsA3vfQaoTvf3g7rCPweEW8Qot4-MrADVJlCdxhdX18nxnjPyJPfB27jDldz-kWcwOg6tKUJwztxhOKDgv_6nZgi8l30c/s1600-h/IMG_3488.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238004363792643938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJQBjuIjxwfTESj8JqRey5JWYvZeyD0C2ixvj1YjzhChy2QvPsA3vfQaoTvf3g7rCPweEW8Qot4-MrADVJlCdxhdX18nxnjPyJPfB27jDldz-kWcwOg6tKUJwztxhOKDgv_6nZgi8l30c/s400/IMG_3488.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR5lfcEMAn2YeOEk8N5vB9X-fFRhWUdHwc5NMJ0dc6zKGddNGAg3vqVDH0AKzenYve_w0k9YRFcptUOVBh698ZSR1ObSzlFi6QJxH3ZzbV5wTcAbHeaTe3s3rrlBJ_eiJMPuuIWKwEYdG/s1600-h/IMG_3507.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238004370168219346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR5lfcEMAn2YeOEk8N5vB9X-fFRhWUdHwc5NMJ0dc6zKGddNGAg3vqVDH0AKzenYve_w0k9YRFcptUOVBh698ZSR1ObSzlFi6QJxH3ZzbV5wTcAbHeaTe3s3rrlBJ_eiJMPuuIWKwEYdG/s400/IMG_3507.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238005055381153778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxnqv0K0XqqeUCpeJIaASTTSxH84YOw1D7O9ukfqc24Nke1ykTbPmiRUWdpj0wRUeb0-O2bIoTcGrahFiqrSICziCznKwzc0fMDcylhycJUxntbzZT-C5gUfJvoReEfZtJB-Ucy2prLaa/s400/IMG_3539.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238005055084927442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz8bm1roIFCgH8G-9Pay0dOboZ6hGVXjMg4x5tUp0e3cPgl50e7Co2JOmXRr6T7iivaqgFa_T9S7EFECknaJTDY8mMJrxlVsYMkr7RtCJyQumJEqf_AdcWTr0eJUY_sSxysoSlhk5WPun/s400/IMG_3548.JPG" border="0" /> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Bedtime around here has taken on some changes, as well. Thanks to Brianna, we are no longer hampered by the strict bedtime of 9pm every night. Rather, we are on what can only be termed as "Brianna time". Meaning, if Brianna wants to stay up till 11:30pm, there's not a darned thing you can do about it, short of putting her in her bed, in which case, she will throw a screaming fit until 11:30pm anyway. To counteract "Brianna time" in what little ways we can, we have taken to doing this at bedtime....<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238005065080987954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLX_HkDb0IuejVl0NStcmFUICW6Qr1WvseE1hE3bXM6eWt8I1eX-w_0v7RXlzyVNKrxL9CQKlEXFjMUR-u6mpwveJCT2fFovHq2Qc8I98a7rvVVc-Pf7Tz6IcbQMfouiwTWL-5D23tUCa/s400/IMG_3553.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238005084188740674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocrvQQDZWmHQWB64ZTHgCyTxPeivGSoudil4QCyrGVA34Clci4inDFYvTbuq_HSbjn0efVUt4lp9ZDYSrWgev-KyKSgrcaMjRgVE-hTiAL4JPfMZU0XGNWLi2i6ch1uYV5JqWx8GASuwO/s400/IMG_3555.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>"Grammy" Mary is still a very big part of our lives here in Oregon. She tries to take Brianna for an overnight visit at least once a week, and calls regularly to check on us, make sure things are going well. These pictures were actually from the day after my 25th birthday, when we went to Mary's to have dinner and open gifts.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238005087987691298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfs2gMJqF4xfN-EmE9NpJQl7jaaBPYUXKGJe98vDwyhbAwYLFB55esTxTj5C3gQUgVOZbtynhnV7SGNvdJthh4MgtIf4zQqLvp9H5bC78stIyUJ3-Zm_89Vx0N5Q42kZ6P8HTCA7qsMVpR/s400/IMG_3574.JPG" border="0" /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238007029629211602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwtqPQmd4PZq6_fFR3sBFeIrKFhrkN5YyVVw5x_7RPLBQkrbA1qOhR6JG8y2f40YJ2uVgQpC_aeaY4E7k1kDvAo3wNw0v_IOFhJBtfDTxbwvfgUhigzMOxEQFnEl4QkFNx9bz_0Krb_Ja/s400/IMG_3578.JPG" border="0" /></p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-66101677836798921402008-08-24T01:46:00.000-07:002008-08-24T01:48:59.064-07:00August 24, 2008 - PICTURE OVERLOAD!!!Okay, it's been ages since I updated. So I figured the best way to do that is to accompany it with pics....So I went through all the pics I've taken since the Junior Rose Parade, and chose the best ones to post. The problem is, I've taken a couple thousand pictures between then and now, so narrowing it down was difficult. So I'll probably do this in two or three posts. So please, bear with me. So, beginning with the next post, the last three months, in photos...Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-54640560757663098352008-06-08T01:06:00.000-07:002008-06-08T01:37:04.745-07:00June 8, 2008 - Junior Rose ParadeOkay, I should've posted this on Wednesday, but I got sidetracked and all that. But...on Wednesday, Brianna and I walked in the Junior Rose Parade in Portland. Or rather, I should say, I walked, Brianna rolled along in her stroller. She did amazingly well, too! We were right between two marching bands, and everyone around us had these obnoxious light-up clappers, so I fully expected that she would be completely overwhelmed and crying the whole time. But, she was smiling and happy! We walked alongside a family we met at therapy one day, and occasionally alongside Brianna's PT, who was pushing another little boy in a wheelchair. He was utterly sweet. While we were waiting for the parade to start, Brianna was very fussy. She doesn't like sitting in her stroller when we aren't moving. So, at first I got out a toy for her to play with. She didn't like that much. But the little boy was making the toy make noises for her. When I took Brianna out of her seat to cuddle, he played with the toy, and kept trying to help straighten the straps of the stroller, and trying to straighten my purse, which I set in the seat to keep the stroller from toppling over from the weight on the back. He really was enchanting. And he LOVED those clappers!<br /><br /><div align="left">Anyway, the parade was about a mile long, but because I had to park near the end and walk back to the beginning, I ended up walking more like 2.5 miles. No big deal. The exercise did me good, even if I was sore afterwards. It also helped work out an ingrown toenail I had. I was scheduled to have my toenail removed because of it on Thursday, but Wednesday night, I soaked my feet, they hurt so bad, and that corner came out! So yay for not having surgery! NOT a good idea to start a new job doped up on pain pills, unable to walk, after having a toenail removed.<br /><br />Back to the topic at hand...I am so proud of Brianna for how well she did during the parade. She was so calm and cool, and her typical sweet self. She definitely took a lot of stress off my mind by behaving so well through it all. Our theme for this year was "Super Heroes". We all got t-shirts, they fed us lunch, and hung a cape from the back of Brianna's stroller. There were little kids dressed up in full on superhero gear. A pink Superwoman, a firefighter with a super soaker, a Batman, a fairy princess, and many others. There were also two service dogs who wore t-shirts, and one little Yorkie named Natalie, with a pink bow on her head, who rode along in a stroller.<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209421192208496066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIFNC8lY4jb1X0bXgSebe4pb1BoNt49C9O5o-5byy9Bs6l-GR9o07khioGKKpvNGwtzxXxz8L3wfXSyyqBQoYSysXYEGVE10-YoGsO28td9zP4TMoAOK0YHpdyUCs3aEi7b2PXIZBQ_N5D/s400/IMG_3299.JPG" border="0" />Brianna, waiting for the parade to start<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209422282490385986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhgLnHpj7XAwnIA-iDKXxNM_EGlKCXHJ2kkhuaYy86W-sYEyjjQkLCqawoit4H1L429PtUmQhF7uitbUDcNFH8ENAjc2rB2LG9F5O3q-JyW__M_tgOTAROf0I__T6estEpZdG0_bfWcSM/s400/IMG_3311.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">This is one of the service dogs (I can't remember his name)<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209422011453475730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Mjz3f_oi279Gj3oielbWazq8-vF3I5YUv9_j50RZJ1OnxQ3ZQ-qYdWRrhnnGMWSMoF40o7fXHT69uctFJ3yhyni8fYSRHP_QQRUbub5Qya-ux-RSPf7H25tQDUBBjIyvLf0j2IPc-Wnr/s400/IMG_3296.JPG" border="0" />Natalie on her royal throne<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209423135612913826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz1b0oGK4fy5cWYipiJhfRsZ_SPiscpt_OaJuxfit9doqphdyqjCrROxDMRfUzIvBlByLp-ewrUcSxj-RRP80FdnQpOOhnsr0okOzsxDD8gT6RcdSIbXRKtKdWqx2IS7WORiwhji9rb0e/s400/IMG_3314.JPG" border="0" /> Some of the clowns and others waiting for the parade to start<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209423162683648930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwLLtQIF10eJxQUEHjvkjoPqftTOWTLdcpiW0G7CCSaic4u9MqMMeN9T_BeOhm4jF8uE5cxP-qu_SRXgBqasMR-kyCLrRIfWM18O7kfYj1L_l9X5ZH7KIsLYk_vXP0M0Oasz88VmL5v2N/s400/IMG_3315.JPG" border="0" />More people waiting...see the capes?<br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5209426228026881074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwravRxu0DEFaGkcGKp8I3qbzcUHY1LLTCs-8IGj8Z9tp-xhQBOJ9S4eZjrlY7qp8Yu_rfox36NMEYTygzhZ7ngnK_DoFm7Px1Dns2RH3k6PIaUu9ZSYayH_28SVQiHbx-UnzrqqGa6BA8/s400/IMG_3319.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The lady on the left, with the green clapper, is Lynn, the PT student who has been observing our sessions.</p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-46036722702075373372008-06-08T00:58:00.000-07:002008-06-08T01:06:02.109-07:00June 7/8, 2008 - Time for Another UpdateWell, for the past month and a half, I've been looking for work. And I finally found a good job with great benefits. I start working on Monday as a Direct Support Provider. Basically, that's a fancy title for a caregiver. I'll be working in a home for developmentally disabled individuals, helping them get up, dressed, bathed, fed, and off to jobs they might have. I'll be doing cooking and cleaning, and supervising any outings we might have. And like I said, there are great benefits. After six months, the employer pays for medical, vision and dental insurance, as well as AFLAC, and a CostCo membership. I get paid vacations, paid sick days, and paid holidays, including my birthday. Or, rather, any day within my birth month. Oh, and I get a raise at 6 months and at 12 months, if I've received all my certifications. And after a year, I have the opportunity to do more training and move up the ladder, get a bigger check, and eventually maybe even "mother" my own house. How exciting is that? Oh, and my supervisor worked it out so that I can have Mondays and Tuesdays off, so Brianna's therapies don't have to suffer for it! And I'll be working primarily day shift!<br /><br />Brianna is doing really well being back in daycare. She has had some difficulty going to sleep recently, but if the last two nights are anything to go by, we should be over that now. Unfortunately, Brianna's daycare provider isn't open on the weekends, so I was going to have my sister's friend watch Brianna for me. She had said she wanted to, and every time I would call her, just to make sure she was still interested, she would say she was. So on Thursday, I called her to let her know I got hired on, and I was going to start needing her to work, and she said, "Oh, well, I've got so much going on this summer, I don't want to do anything on the weekends." So, I've been scrambling to find weekend childcare. I posted on ad on Craigslist, under the childcare section and in the jobs section under et cetera. And now I'm up to my eyeballs in applicants! I posted the ad on Thursday night/Friday morning (about 2am). Since then, I've had at least six applicants that I can remember. I interviewed one guy tonight. He's 19, a student at a local Bible college, and seems really sweet. He came by about 7pm, and I had started a stew on the stove, around 6:30pm. He stayed till almost 9:30, learning about Brianna, asking questions, playing with Brianna. About 9:00, my stew got done, so I invited him to eat (I made a big pot of it...put some in tupperware to freeze, some in tupperware to take over for Bob and Mary, and some in tupperware for leftovers). He asked me to give his girlfriend cooking lessons :-P. He said she loves to cook, wants to be a chef, but no one has the heart to tell her she's a horrible cook. So I guess he liked my stew :-P. I finally sent him on his way about 9:30, when it was time for Brianna to go to bed. I really did get a good feeling from the guy. He said he would like to go to school to become a kindergarten teacher, once his term at Bible college is over.<br /><br />Tomorrow, I have an interview at 4:00 with a 21 year old girl who seems very nice, has good experience with childcare. I'm trying to set up another interview with a mom of five kids who wants to watch Brianna, as well. I would have to transport Brianna there, though. There's also another DCP who I might interview, if all else fails. Her rates are $4 an hour for Brianna, $3 an hour normally, so she's entirely reasonable in her rates. She has no experience with children with disabilities, but only one of the other applicants does. That applicant is 20 years old, and is a premed student, hoping to specialize in tropical diseases. She spent time doing volunteer work with the Ruel Foundation in the Phillippines, working with children with cleft lips, clubbed feet, and other disabilities. She is also certified through the World Health Organization in the integrated management of childhood diseases. She currently works full time at Applebee's, and leads the Wednesday Kids Night there. This girl's resume and experiences is seriously impressive. I have a feeling I'm going to have an incredibly difficult decision to make on this one ladies and gents.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-16279613681247713722008-05-26T01:01:00.000-07:002008-05-26T01:03:39.462-07:00May 26, 2008 - Video of Brianna Laughing<p>Here's the video my sister took of Brianna laughingon her birthday. She was so excited all day, she KNEW it was a special day!</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dymB-Zsx_6lY4vT9bZv2EvGF-3b3-_NCpdZPjgEjm1G24j-i01y6fYA0ULqZuDfGgYirJmqx8b_t9pxreo_ew' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-52232868725343350452008-05-25T22:37:00.001-07:002008-05-25T22:53:46.155-07:00May 25, 2008 - Happy Birthday Brianna!Well, Brianna turned three on Friday. We celebrated tonight, since Mary was in Wisconsin until last night. It was a good birthday for her. On the day before her birthday, we got Brianna's new Rifton bath chair delivered. It had been sitting in the medical supply company's office for a couple weeks, I guess, because they couldn't track us down. Yeah. That's how long it takes to get approval from insurance. We moved to our new apartment March 20th. And the address on the forms was our old one. So, yeah. It's been a while. But some things take longer. That day, we also got a call to let us know that Brianna's wheelchair is almost ready. It will take about three more weeks, because they have to wait for final approval from the insurance company, which takes 2-3 weeks. Then, I'll be posting pics of Brianna in her pretty purple wheelchair.<br /><div></div><br /><div>On her actual birthday, Brianna had fun. She went to daycare, where they sang "Happy Birthday" to her all day. Then, on the way home, she was roaring at me from the back seat. Later in the evening, she got to talk on the phone with Grammy Mary, who was in Wisconsin visiting her mother for two weeks; and she got to talk to Gramma Betty and Grampa Allen. All that talking on the phone got her really excited, and she spent the rest of the evening squealing and propelling herself back and forth across the living room floor. Then came bath time with her new bath chair. When I got her naked for her bath, she got even MORE excited. Her Auntie Sarah got some great video with her phone of Brianna squealing, arching and flopping, but I have to look at it to make sure it isn't x-rated, since Brianna WAS naked. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>On Saturday, we went over to Grammy and Bobo's to do some cleaning (since Bobo has been home alone for two weeks...we expected the house to be a mess...it was surprisingly clean!) and some laundry. I had a pleasant surprise when I checked my bank account, because my state income tax was finally deposited in my account. So we went shopping. Got some groceries. I got some new bedding for my bed, some new sheets, a new bedskirt, and an embroidered quilt, since the weather is warming up, and a comforter is becoming too heavy. After shopping, we came home, and I barbecued and made cupcakes for the neighbor kids, who, by the time they were done, had to go inside for the night. Then, after Brianna went to bed, I set about making her teddy bear cake. It turned out great, and was really yummy.</div><br /><div></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204559476199261170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGGHiwKZyYRhWGLeV6T0PB3JPBM1IFiUY8H6f3FEMb8HWA87fr5OMmNBs7io9CmFgp1TRJpRvES3lWucHoBVrTTMiPkgpzgzuYAq_cfRfeDQKgT7oimELd_bYtJnPbxdPCnzmKF3sdtybe/s400/IMG_3183.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p>For her birthday, Brianna got lots of clothes, both from me and from Grammy. She got a cute little sporty outfit from Damien, and she got a rocking horse that sings "Home on the Range" from Grammy. From Gramma Dorothy (Mary's Mom), Brianna got a necklace with a birthstone angel pendant attached. It's a bit big for her, but we can either get another chain for it, or save it until she is older. </p><p>All in all, Bri is doing well so far. She's still her contrary self, running into walls with her power chair, turning circles, and going into unauthorized places. But she's happy as can be, so we can't really get mad at her.</p>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-71544049191729661522008-05-03T23:09:00.000-07:002008-05-03T23:24:46.189-07:00May 3, 2008 - 50 Steps!Okay, update time!<br /><br />In the past two weeks, there's been quite a bit happening. First of all, Brianna started back at daycare again, so that I can look for work. So far, there've been no interviews or anything yet. But I'm still looking. Brianna does well at daycare, but when I drop her off, she has to do the token fussing and resisting to remind me that I had better come back for her. But as soon as that door is shut behind me, she's happy as a clam. It's like a light switch. Seriously, that fast. No real tears, even. <br /><br />In therapy, Brianna has been developing a distinctively stubborn and contrary streak, especially when we have occupational therapy at Shriner's. Whether we have OT or PT, Brianna always spends some time driving in the power chair. When we have OT and put her in it, she absolutely HATES to go any direction you tell her to. Ask her to go straight, she turns circles. Say, "Let's go get stickers", she goes to look at the fish. Say, "Let's go look at the fish", she goes towards the sky bridge. If she hears the elevator, she tries to get on it. If she sees a door open, she wants to go through it. Voices are another adventure for her. She'll go anywhere she hears voices. She runs into walls, just for the fun of it. "Authorized personnel only" signs hold no meaning for her. Nor do the words, "Stop" or "Let's go..." And the entire time she is contradicting every word you say to her, she has a great big grin on her face! <br /><br />Now, in contrast, when we have PT, Brianna is a perfect angel. She drives in straight lines, with minimal crashes into walls or doorways. You say, "Let's go get stickers", and not only does she go to the room, but she does her little circle to turn around and see the stickers, WITHOUT trying to go into the central supply room first! She just tools up and down those halls, as sweet as can be, happy as a clam, minding everything Molly says. Of course, as soon as Denee, the OT, shows up, which she does if she has spare time during our therapy hour, Brianna starts being a little stinker again. And I know it isn't because she dislikes either one of them. She loves them both! She immediately gets full of smiles when she sees either one of them. I think it's just because Denee gives her a little more freedom than Molly does, maybe. When Bri drives with the PT, often Molly will walk along behind, with her hands on the handles, that way she can easily correct if Brianna needs the help. There is no guiding the chair with the handles while it is in drive. It's too heavy. So I know that it isn't Molly keeping Brianna straight through her own force. In contrast, when Denee puts Bri in the chair, she walks along side, or a couple feet behind, so she's a few steps away, close enough to reach if necessary, but far enough away that Brianna doesn't feel like she's being crowded or pushed. It's amazing to compare their different styles of teaching and therapy. <br /><br />Now, as for the title of this thread...Yes, it means Brianna took about 50 steps! In PT on Thursday, Brianna was NOT a happy camper in her walkabout. She just couldn't seem to get that right leg to do what she wanted it to, so she was standing still quite a bit. So, Molly took Brianna out of the walkabout, and just held her under the arms. And Brianna walked about 25-30 steps away from me that way. Then she walked back to me that way. It was amazing! She was so happy, and you could tell from her grin and the happy sounds she was making that she was proud of herself! She was awesome! I wish I would have remembered to bring my camera. From now on, I do not go to therapy without it. There are too many important milestones that I might miss if I don't have my camera. <br /><br />Anyway, it's late now, and I'm tired, so I'm going to end this entry here. I'll update on Brianna's progress in speech therapy tomorrow or the next day.<br /><br />Oh, and Damien, we haven't seen you in a while, but I know you're probably reading, and I wanted to let you know that any time you want to see Bri or spend time with her, all you have to do is let me know. You're more than welcome to come see her, or keep her overnight, or even just for a couple hours, if you want to. All ya have to do is ask.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-33071742927821614622008-04-19T20:49:00.001-07:002008-04-19T21:01:18.867-07:00April 19, 2008 - Brianna has a coldWell, Brianna has a horrible cold right now. Nose running constantly, eye buggers, fussy, and lots and lots of snot. Snot galore. Buckets of it. Never ending snot. But, she seems pretty happy. Peachy, actually.<br /><br />Oh, and have I mentioned lately that she has developed a stubborn streak? Lately, when we go up for therapy at Shriner's, she has gotten very stubborn and contrary. You say "Go left", she goes right. You say, "Let's go down here...", she starts turning circles. You ask if she wants stickers, she goes to the fish, and vice versa. And she has a grin on her face the entire time. She deliberately runs into walls. She runs over feet. She follows people. She is so precocious! And I'm loving every minute of it. <br /><br />When you've got a non-mobile, non-verbal child who doesn't seem to be outgrowing those baby looks, like Brianna, it's easy to forget that she is almost 3 years old. Most 3 year olds are showing their little personalities. But to me, Brianna has been eternally an infant. So when I see little snippets of her personality coming through, it's amazing to me. It reminds me just how wonderful and special she is. <br /><br />Like, the other day...she was so quiet and calm, I fell asleep on the couch, watching cartoons with her. Next thing I know, she's shrieking happily...I look down, she had gotten into a bag of cotton balls and strewn them all over herself (I know, Melissa, you're probably cringing and shuddering right now). She had clothes all over herself. And she was absolutely thrilled. So, I couldn't be upset with her.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-46279847455112427162008-04-12T01:37:00.000-07:002008-04-12T02:14:06.176-07:00April 12, 2008 - The Story of Audrey CarolineAs mommy to a child with developmental disabilities, sometimes I become overwhelmed by all the facts, the diagnoses, the prognoses, the prescriptions, the therapies, etc. etc. etc. I forget what a blessing Brianna is to my life. Two things tonight have served to drive home just how special she is.<br /><br />It's funny how something as simple as a television show can impact someone so much. I was watching the show "Secret Life of a Soccer Mom" on TLC. Tonight's episode featured a woman who, for the past six years, has stayed at home with her children, a daughter and a son. Her decision to be a stay at home mom came when she was five months pregnant and found out that her son would be born with Spina Bifida. To top it all off, she later found out that her son is mildly autistic. <br /><br />This woman is amazing. Her son is on more medications than I ever want to see Brianna prescribed. It would be difficult enough to deal with the issues that come along with spina bifida. Trying to get a disabled child to do something in therapy, when they are tired, in pain, and fed up, is difficult enough. But you add on the added issues of autism, the behavioral issues, the ticks and quirks, and I'd probably tear out my hair. And she does it on her own. Her husband works constantly, leaving as early as 3am, and getting home, sometimes not until 8 or 9 pm. And yet, she gives props to single moms. She says she doesn't know how we do it. I don't know how she does it. I really don't. <br /><br />Anyway, something she said during the show really impacted me. She said that, staying home with the kids, giving up her career, giving up a part of herself, in essence short changed her kids. In order to be the best mom she can be, she has to do things for herself, too. I know this is a concept that is constantly thrown out there for moms. But as a parent of a disabled child, you often feel as if you have to be there 100% of the time. This was an observation this woman made, as well as an observation I've made numerous times. It feels like a betrayal to leave Brianna in the care of someone else and go to work. Who's going to make sure she gets the exercises she needs? Who is going to cuddle her and soothe her when she has a retching spell or a seizure, or a noise startles her? Who is going to go to her appointments, her therapies, her classes? Who is going to be the voice for her and her needs, if I'm too busy working to speak up? And so, it's been easier to stay home with Brianna, to live, or rather, subsist, off of welfare and SSI. It's less scary. But the fact of the matter is, by staying home with Brianna, by not doing anything for me, by becoming a shadow of myself, I am doing neither of us a favor. Brianna will never learn to survive and thrive without me, if I don't give her the chance to learn. So, I'm going to look for work again. For certain this time. My baby is too important to me to continue living the way we have been. <br /><br />The other event of tonight: I read a blog that a friend, Denise, posted a link to, and it absolutely broke my heart. Those of you familiar with Christian music might be familiar with the group, Selah. Well, one of the wife of one of the group members created a blog to chronicle the journey of her pregnancy with her daughter, Audrey Caroline. It's a bittersweet story, with a bittersweet ending. But it's threaded throughout with so much love for this child who, through her life and death, has touched the lives of so many others. Knowing that their daughter would probably not live, that the chances were so very slim, the Smiths still chose to carry her, to bear her, and to love her, as if she were not dying. As if, from her very conception, she was more than just their daughter. She was a miracle. The words to describe the impact of this story on me escape me. It's beautiful, and poignant, and my heart aches and lifts with the emotions. The most important thing it has shown me, though, is how very lucky I am to have Brianna with me. To be able to love her, and see her smile, and know that, thanks to God and the efforts of so many doctors, she is alive and with me, regardless of any disabilities she has. I am so very blessed by her, in so many ways.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-27736814936142987202008-04-08T14:51:00.000-07:002008-04-08T15:02:38.192-07:00April 8, 2008 - For JessicaSo, I haven't posted pics of Bri in her walkabout yet, and I've had them for a while. We finally got her walkabout today, but I haven't taken pics of it without her in it. These pics are from Feb. 28, when we were up there for therapy. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrFb3iU2t4AmREe8fvz-hJ5qzDyyHsdo41i-7L0BushWiuHho6nAqYS9jT0tcojPW2XvXoF2BEvKklAVQlcyhUN8Rvkr2hCixzNWtpN3y7ZM-dT5eP70iRJp2yn42BynnGIKtue1vu0jO/s1600-h/IMG_2473.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186997855487419474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrFb3iU2t4AmREe8fvz-hJ5qzDyyHsdo41i-7L0BushWiuHho6nAqYS9jT0tcojPW2XvXoF2BEvKklAVQlcyhUN8Rvkr2hCixzNWtpN3y7ZM-dT5eP70iRJp2yn42BynnGIKtue1vu0jO/s400/IMG_2473.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95silBKEYA9bZzhoRSk_nlGC8nuDn1mjZl2XFChK8DncI0axhpv14XRpB4rp3NTO_LHhoxGsqRSh_qu2uN9rFV3DFRgsBTslHdy_RnmNBpk-9IzMW4pgVecY4Ilro9W1Y3CBlwHelrvXT/s1600-h/IMG_2455.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186997511890035714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95silBKEYA9bZzhoRSk_nlGC8nuDn1mjZl2XFChK8DncI0axhpv14XRpB4rp3NTO_LHhoxGsqRSh_qu2uN9rFV3DFRgsBTslHdy_RnmNBpk-9IzMW4pgVecY4Ilro9W1Y3CBlwHelrvXT/s400/IMG_2455.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOVcGOf-Kn-RQFYFVDXMTH5CqJwVvWS1ejwotbikQttlke15WgaWs7U8uSg0Yv3eAy3rAnjZV1AFZ0lI8F8mhDjEiE1UaC0DCZpTTrlJHFQcEFKwbw95BgX4uvf2aCznazr7YdokE4dfb/s1600-h/IMG_2457.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186997520479970322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOVcGOf-Kn-RQFYFVDXMTH5CqJwVvWS1ejwotbikQttlke15WgaWs7U8uSg0Yv3eAy3rAnjZV1AFZ0lI8F8mhDjEiE1UaC0DCZpTTrlJHFQcEFKwbw95BgX4uvf2aCznazr7YdokE4dfb/s400/IMG_2457.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagSR27yriGp0Fyw_dqbJJDaaH8kl-QoFZgWkdGbBmNkQLrlFHl0goM5oQp1FpzeVSh6kXMdMVwBM941E7CInR3DOGHO_ioahReU8cCMmQXBfXsTqdlLXofP_abQ3czGxdKMT-GLMEdDxd/s1600-h/IMG_2460.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186997524774937634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagSR27yriGp0Fyw_dqbJJDaaH8kl-QoFZgWkdGbBmNkQLrlFHl0goM5oQp1FpzeVSh6kXMdMVwBM941E7CInR3DOGHO_ioahReU8cCMmQXBfXsTqdlLXofP_abQ3czGxdKMT-GLMEdDxd/s400/IMG_2460.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXraHTQ-QLTn_NoXtiga8OPbTtast8GDRWe22UvaeXwCq-MyaqCOg-Y5X1z8Om3lS9AnijxwdcC820e_VLndPW9ZpugIQEdjHJ7EmYP4QJpYaaNpuoAegdbNJ-ZEVZPaKkCVYu0vOmjweL/s1600-h/IMG_2464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186997529069904946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXraHTQ-QLTn_NoXtiga8OPbTtast8GDRWe22UvaeXwCq-MyaqCOg-Y5X1z8Om3lS9AnijxwdcC820e_VLndPW9ZpugIQEdjHJ7EmYP4QJpYaaNpuoAegdbNJ-ZEVZPaKkCVYu0vOmjweL/s400/IMG_2464.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnfAvTs3L8hX5L0lbQQMatmHeqmqc7BI04yaNMgpDWr8iI6gGJ3nZL76BwnAtOeDuBubdUZW3u6NAyz64bMZoUCa1JyxvMBu6lTi0gDtglXBl5w2x7VbbtBltJMeyOOeM0g7X4Y6LuVdX/s1600-h/IMG_2472.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186997533364872258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnfAvTs3L8hX5L0lbQQMatmHeqmqc7BI04yaNMgpDWr8iI6gGJ3nZL76BwnAtOeDuBubdUZW3u6NAyz64bMZoUCa1JyxvMBu6lTi0gDtglXBl5w2x7VbbtBltJMeyOOeM0g7X4Y6LuVdX/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-14186345579751197842008-04-06T21:36:00.000-07:002008-04-06T21:39:02.059-07:00April 6, 2008 - I've HAD it!Okay, I know I've been complaining about my sister a lot lately, but this time, seriously, I've about had it!<br /><br />I tacked on $150 a month to her rent for groceries, toilet paper, soap, etc, because she wasn't helping buy anything. I told her before she got paid the time before last that she needed to buy toilet paper. She didn't. I ended up having to use money I had set aside for gas to buy tp, because she blew her check. So, she gripes and moans about having to pay $150 a month for that, saying I don't spend that much, and she wants to know how much of that $300 total a month I spend on stuff she doesn't use. So I told her, "Let's see...I bought a $10 pack of diapers, some deodorant, and tampons." But wait. She uses the deodorant and tampons because shes' too lazy to buy her own. So that means out of $300 worth of groceries and stuff this month, $10 was on stuff she won't use. If she gripes next month, she can buy her own darn soap, tp, deodorant, tampons, food, etc.<br /><br />Okay, so that's not all. My sister has two jobs. One part time, one full time. She pulls in more money per month than I do, by far. But who do you think is always borrowing money from whom? And I have more bills to pay! I have $120 a month car insurance bill that she doesn't pay! I have other bills that she doesn't pay!<br /><br />Oh, wait, it gets better. Sarah was scheduled to work from 8:30-4:30 on Saturday at the full time job, and from 5:00-10:00 at JC Penney. She went out partying on Friday night, and then called in sick to both jobs! Then, she showed up at home, showered, got dressed, and went out again at 8:30 last night! She was supposed to work from 8:30-4:30 again today. But she called in AGAIN! And now she's out SHOPPING! Did she bother to call me and let me know that she was okay? NO! Did she stop to think that, having not heard from her in 22 hours, I might be a bit worried? NO! I am just so SICK of her irresponsible, teenager attitude! If she calls in to work because she's hung over ONE MORE TIME, she's GONE! I'm serious. She can pack her sh*t and leave, and I'll throw a party in her wake!<br /><br />I am SICK of cleaning up after her, cooking for her, doing her laundry, picking UP her laundry, throwing away her trash, supplying her every little need, loaning her money, then having her nit pick about just how much she OWES me, having her complain when I want to DO something. I mean, heaven FORBID I should ask her to watch Brianna for a night so I can go out and DO something anymore! The only time I get to go out anymore is if Mary takes Brianna, or if I pay a babysitter. And then, it's usually with my SISTER, because she doesn't think it's RIGHT for me to go out by myself, and considers it her duty to go out with me! I mean, yeah, it's nice to be able to hang out once in a while. But it's also nice to get out on my own and feel HUMAN. To go out on a date once in a while! I am just so completely SICK and TIRED of all this cr*p!<br /><br />I'm dead serious. If she pulls a stunt like this just one more time, she's gone. I don't care if I have to scrimp and save every penny, or borrow from Mary or Damien to make ends meet. I'd rather do that and not have to deal with her antics. That is IT!Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-52630179923693177432008-04-03T16:18:00.000-07:002008-04-03T16:24:28.983-07:00April 3, 2008 - Thinking About Becoming A Parent?Thinking of Having Kids? Do this 11 step program first!<br /><br />Lesson 1<br />1. Go to the grocery store.<br />2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to their head office.<br />3. Go home.<br />4. Pick up the paper.<br />5. Read it for the last time.<br /><br />Lesson 2<br />Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who already are parents and berate them about their...<br /><br />1. Methods of discipline.<br />2. Lack of patience.<br />3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.<br />4. Allowing their children to run wild.<br />5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.<br /><br />Enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.<br /><br />Lesson 3<br />A really good way to discover how the nights might feel...<br /><br />1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5PM-10PM carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8-12 pounds, with a radio turned to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly.<br />2. Eat cold food with one hand for dinner<br />3. At 10PM, put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight, and go to sleep.<br />4. Get up at 12 and walk around the living room again, with the bag, until 1AM.<br />5. Set the alarm for 3AM.<br />6. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2AM, make a drink and watch an infomercial.<br />7. Go to bed at 2:45AM.<br />8. Get up at 3AM when the alarm goes off.<br />9. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4AM.<br />10. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive)<br /><br />Repeat steps 1-9 each night. Keep this up for 3-5 years. Look cheerful and together.<br /><br />Lesson 4<br />Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...<br /><br />1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.<br />2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.<br />3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.<br />4. Then rub them on the clean walls.<br />5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.<br />6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons.<br /><br />How does that look?<br /><br />Lesson 5<br />Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.<br /><br />1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.<br />2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.<br /><br />Time allowed for this - all morning.<br /><br />Lesson 6<br />Forget the BMW and buy a mini-van. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.<br /><br />1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.<br />2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.<br />3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.<br />4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.<br /><br />Lesson 7<br />Go to the local grocery store. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice). If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat.<br /><br />1. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight.<br />2. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.<br /><br />Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.<br /><br />Lesson 8<br /><br />1. Hollow out a melon.<br />2. Make a small hole in the side.<br />3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.<br />4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.<br />5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.<br />6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.<br /><br />You are now ready to feed a nine- month-old baby.<br /><br />Lesson 9<br />Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street , Barney, Disney, theT eletubbies, and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's 'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.<br /><br />Lesson 10<br />Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no more than a four second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhereyou go for the next four years.<br /><br />You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.<br /><br />Lesson 11<br />Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug on your skirt hem, shirt- sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above.<br /><br />You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-17988076854839548682008-03-30T16:32:00.000-07:002008-03-30T16:41:27.498-07:00March 30, 2008 - So cute!<div>Okay, so, yesterday was an extremely fussy day for Brianna. She refused to nap in her crib. She didn't like being on the floor. So I put her in her high chair, so she could watch her cartoons from a different angle, then I went into the kitchen. I had a peach cobbler in the oven. I took it out, came back into the living room, sat down to check my email. Five minutes later, I looked behind me, and htis is what I found:</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183683390570390450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4No_BJ3JDuiIbjK0_Kc4i06SG8IF7F19Fw_U781CohKX5w6Z0_St_C2Lm7tEAir33bnappt-rTocTsw0VNwaMm5zmlxE93vy2I-rH_7ShKUy6u1tVUwtlful7aiVZHRxXW-xqAYJJXTs/s400/IMG_2834.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183683399160325058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe4hjYyP2IGEIZvyWKRzdvFO-ApiBOguTA9RPfr6kJK5pBf-iZWGzzE-Ph74BiYxxeApotgkRHBQQsPRpHfPlPAZEBIlqiXr31GlHw7FtOzGDwPns86JdQEf-1T6A-rtJe3jWZU8NmK5h/s400/IMG_2835.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183683407750259682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxZwL3zzhWRciONmcF7JeJDoRW8bSU-7BMZtn-JheKR3_JmoFgz4GpbVXTbf-hjg0ugcbH8GnYWyWrigGezQqT6g0ttiMavQfLxpasYLwYwQCGwp-f9x4Qzs_nVlXH7G9Yd4Uf9dYioIO/s400/IMG_2837.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5183683416340194290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_tgEUd1c9BRVX20AcY3JP4sONCCH7DKTDiadnJ-ftir8wpMRS7xd4iNZJQV4B6e-rNIcoDNUpgJOqRKljgg2_Zu88G2-cvXYPCf9SGhyphenhyphenSkUloIH0ST67vChylGqeOvHB58Zv60GgUlhn7/s400/IMG_2838.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div> </div>Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-91688534676843684472008-03-29T00:50:00.000-07:002008-03-29T00:55:08.916-07:00March 29, 2008 - Not Much New HereWell, there's not much new here today. Brianna has a cold, which is making her miserable. On top of that, she's not adjusting well to nights in a new apartment. Tonight, she started falling asleep on the floor by 8:00pm. I would've put her to bed right then, if I hadn't needed to give her her meds still. So she ended up going to bed promptly at 9:00, which is supposed to be her bedtime. Well, she fussed for almost an hour, until I went upstairs and got her out of bed. I cuddled her for a few minutes, then took her back up, put her down, and hooked her back up to her feeding pump. She fussed off and on from that time, which was about 10:00pm, until almost 12:30am. She would sleep for a few minutes, then wake up and fuss for a few minutes. Sleep. Then fuss. It's both heart wrenching and frustrating, because she needs her sleep, and I need the break and the peace, but I can't bear to hear her crying. It's so frustrating trying to do it all alone. It's times like that when I really miss Damien, and having his help. <br /><br />Anyway, other than that, not much new here. Same old struggles, same old frustrations. You know the drill.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-86909638250309055772008-03-26T15:21:00.000-07:002008-03-26T15:24:50.707-07:00March 26, 2008 - Quick UpdateJust a quick update for you all who might be curious as to what's going on with us. We got all moved in to our new apartment. Took about 5 days of moving stuff, and a couple hours of cleaning, but it's all done. We've got most everything unpacked and set up, too, and it's starting to feel like home.<br /><br />Brianna's Walkabout is ready for pick up. But since the PT is gone all week, we don't get to pick it up until April 3rd, when we see her next. But I'm excited to get it. And we have room for it now, in our new aparment :-). <br /><br />Other than that, nothing new. A lot of emotional stuff going on for me right now, but I won't blog about it here. If you have access to my other blog, you can read about it there. Thanks for checking in!Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-81408917512960130482008-03-17T23:37:00.000-07:002008-03-18T00:20:21.946-07:00May 17, 2008 - Brianna's Smiles"Brianna smiles. It lights up her face. Her eyes glow, her cheeks dimple, and those four little teeth peek at me, barely risen above the gums. She kicks and coos, and I swear she must be the happiest baby in the world."<br /><br />I wrote that a few months ago when I was taking a writing class through the community college. It was part of an "image notebook" we had to keep: in depth descriptions of things we saw, felt, heard, tasted, or smelled throughout the week.<br /><br />Of all the things about parenting that there are to love, it's Brianna's smiles that I love the most. They're always so open, and so freely given. They're so contagious. And she is completely unable to contain them. Even when she's pouting, you can make her smile. She might go right back to pouting after the smile, but she can't help but smile, regardless. <br /><br />Today, Brianna was exceptionally giggly. Standing in line at the pharmacy at Wal Mart, waiting to pick up Brianna's formula, Brianna started to get fussy. All it took to have her laughing was a dip. Just a lowering of my right arm, a raising of my left, so that she was tipped upside down, and she was giggling and smiling again. <br /><br />Later, we took a lunch to my sister at work, and sat and visited with Auntie and the cook, who is a friend of mine, and Brianna was kicking and stepping and arching away, happy as can be. After a while, that gets to be tiring. Especially when she starts tryign to knock us both backwards. So, I started dipping her again. She started laughing and smiling again. I had her sitting on my knees, my hands behind her back, dipping her back and forth. Every time I would raise her up, she would roll her eyes back in her head and tip her head back again to show me that she wanted to go backwards again. She took such glee in such a simple action, it was wonderful. <br /><br />Later still, creeping up on bedtime, I was playing with her yet again. Doing the same thing. And she was busting out into gales of laughter. Uncontrollable belly laughs, the kind that you can't help but laugh along with. And in that laugh, I didn't hear a baby. I heard a little girl. And I had to face the truth: my baby girl is growing up. She isn't a baby any more, no matter how much she may still look like one, and no matter how much I want her to still be one. She's learning to do things, taking in her surroundings, and becoming so much a little girl, I can't help but look ahead to the years to come, and imagine who she will become. She's such an amazing little thing, and her capacity to learn and do things is as yet untested. It's only been 2 1/2 years since the car accident. Studies show that brain injuries can continue to heal up to 4 years after the injury. So by that token, Brianna can still make some amazing progress in her growth and development. Not to mention the fact that she's not quite three years old. To me, there is still hope for the things she might one day be able to do. Granted, she will more than likely never perform brain surgery, or any kind of surgery for that matter. But she could learn to talk. She could learn to put on a pair of socks. There are still so many things left that she might yet learn to do. And all of those things flash through my mind every time Brianna smiles.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-43844062515245528162008-03-13T19:00:00.000-07:002008-03-13T19:07:29.925-07:00March 13, 2008 - Brianna's ChairOkay, so the big news of the week: we finally had Brianna measured for her manual wheelchair! We're going for the metallic purple frame with the black upholstery and lavender accents. And it'll have her name embroidered on the seat back. It will take probably two months to get the chair, from the therapists writing the letters, to the doctor sending the referral to insurance, to insurances approval, and the creation of the chair. So maybe by Brianna's birthday, we'll have her wheelchair! That would be so awesome! <br /><br />In other news, we get to start moving into our brand new 3 bedroom apartment on Wednesday. Well, not brand new. But new to us. It's in the same complex, just with an extra bedroom, a half bathroom downstairs, and a few extra feet of living room. So MAYBE we will have room to put up the dining table, even with Brianna's therapy equipment in the living area.<br /><br />While this new three bedroom means more room, it is still a two story, and it is still not wheelchair accessible. So I really need to find someplace more suited for our needs. Towards this end, I intend to go down to the housing authority and fill out paperwork to be put on the HUD housing list. Where Brianna is disabled, we'll be bumped to the top of the list. That way, we can maybe find a three bedroom one story house and be able to afford it. That would be awesome. Have a third bedroom to put her therapy equipment in, and still have it one story, so dragging out the equipment isn't a total hassle. Plus, I could set up my scrapbooking stuff in the extra room, too. So it'd serve dual purposes. <br /><br />So that's the news on this front. What's new with you?Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140074363945468422.post-37644202614436021402008-03-07T21:16:00.000-08:002008-03-07T21:59:02.362-08:00March 7, 2008 - Survey Says...Adopted this from <a href="http://duncanfamily2004.blogspot.com/">Jessica's blog</a>.<br /><br />MOUTHOLOGY<br /><br />Q. What is your favorite fast food restaurant?<br />Probably same as Jessica...Taco Bell. Sometimes I just don't feel like eating a burger or fried chicken. But even when nothing sounds appetizing, if I get something at Taco Bell, it is good. Except that one time when the chicken was all dried out and yucky...<br /><br />Q. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?<br />A. Applebee's or Red Robin<br /><br />Q. On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?<br />A. Typically 10-15%, sometimes, if I'm feeling generous, more. Really, when my sister and I go to a sitdown restaurant, 10-15% of the check is only about $2-3.<br /><br />Q. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?<br />A. Umm...none...I get tired of food quickly. I'm not big on food, really. I wish we could exist without it.<br /><br />Q. What are your pizza toppings of choice?<br />A. Hawaiian. That's Ham, pineapple and olives. Occasionally tomato. If my sister isn't here.<br /><br />Q. What do you like to put on your toast?<br />A. butter and a little bit of jelly or jam. Usually strawberry or seedless blackberry<br /><br />TECHNOLOGY<br /><br />Q. What is your wallpaper on your computer?<br />A. Me and Brianna last August at Foster Lake<br /><br />Q. How many televisions are in your house?<br />A. Just the one in the living room<br /><br />BIOLOGY<br /><br />Q. Are you right-handed or left-handed?<br />A. Right handed<br /><br />Q. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?<br />A. Yes. Tonsils and adenoids, gall bladder, and a child. Oh, and I think a couple of bone shards from my nose when the doctor straightened it back out after the crash.<br /><br />Q. What is the last heavy item you lifted?<br />A. Hmm...I just carried a bag of clean laundry upstairs. But I think Brianna might be heavier, and I carried her into the house shortly before that. Then again, the basket of wet towels I carried downstairs earlier was exceedingly heavy. Talk about back breaking!<br /><br />Q. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?<br />A. Yes....been put under anesthesia. I blacked out, which caused our wreck. And I passed out again after the guy stopped to make sure Brianna and I were okay.<br /><br />BULL****OLOLY<br /><br />Q. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?<br />A. No, because then I'd spend all of my time worrying about that day.<br /><br />Q. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?<br />A. I wouldn't change my first name. Someday, though, I'll change my last name. Maybe to McConnaughey or Depp or something like that....<br /><br />Q. What color do you think looks best on you?<br />A. I don't know, really.<br /><br />Q. Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?<br />A. dirt, sawdust, flies, I'm sure, growing up around goats, there has been a bit of manure in there, too...and hay. Lots of hay<br /><br />Q. Have you ever saved some one’s life?<br />A. Not to my knowledge<br /><br />Q. Has someone ever saved yours?<br />A. Well, I guess you could say the doctor did. I mean, she didn't let me bleed to death on the operating table during my c-section. So technically, my life was in her hands.<br /><br />DAREOLOGY<br /><br />Q. Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?<br />A. Possibly<br /><br />Q. Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000?<br />A. No....I'm not good with pain.<br /><br />Q. Would you never blog again for $50,000?<br />A. As long as I could write in journals.<br /><br />Q. Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?<br />A. I might, depending on how tough times were.<br /><br />Q. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?<br />A. No way, no how.<br /><br />Q. Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?<br />A. No. Not a chance. Not for any amount of money. Unless my daughter's life was in danger.<br /><br />DUMBOLOGY<br /><br />Q: What is in your left pocket?<br />A: Nothing. I'm in my jammies now. I don't use my left pocket often, anyway.<br /><br />Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?<br />A: Umm...I couldn't sit through the whole thing. I hated it.<br /><br />Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?<br />A: Unless I am drunk, sick, or pregnant, I stand.<br /><br />Q: Could you live with roommates?<br />A: I have my sister as a roommate. And Jess, Caspar does NOT live with you! He's here! He's mine!<br /><br />Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?<br />A: Four or five, I think.<br /><br />Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?<br />A: Last time I had any dealings with a police officer was August of 2005, when they were questioning me about the accident.<br /><br />Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?<br />A: Always wanted to be a wife and mommy<br /><br />LASTOLOGY<br /><br />Q: Last Friend you talked to?<br />A: Mary, I think.<br /><br />Q: Last person who called you?<br />A: Sarah<br /><br />FAVORITOLOGY<br /><br />Q: Number?<br />A: 3<br /><br />Q: Season?<br />A: Summer....love the warmth and the green and the flowers. Summer here is generally relatively mild, so we still have lots of the spring blooms.<br /><br />CURRENTOLOGY<br /><br />Q: Missing someone?<br />A: Yes.<br /><br />Q: Mood?<br />A: depressed.<br /><br />Q: Listening to?<br />A: A Backyardigans song on Noggin<br /><br />Q: Watching?<br />A: the computer screen. Brianna is watching Noggin behind me.<br /><br />Q: Worrying about?<br />A. Too much.<br /><br />RANDOMOLOGY<br /><br />Q: First place you went this morning?<br />A: To get Brianna out of her bed.<br /><br />Q: What can you not wait to do?<br />A: I don't know. Go to sleep, I suppose.<br /><br />Q: What’s the last movie you saw?<br />A: The Spiderwick Chronicles in theaters. We Own the Night on DVD.<br /><br />Q: Do you smile alot?<br />A: Depends on the day and my mood. Somedays are better than others.<br /><br />Q: Are you a friendly person?<br />A: Most of the time. But I'm also shy.Melindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18414984346037884326noreply@blogger.com0